The Square on 21st

On June 15, 2017, the Downtown Denver Partnership joined with the City and County of Denver to open The Square on 21st, a two-month pop-up park that straddles the Ballpark and Arapahoe Square neighborhoods on 21st Street between Larimer and Lawrence.

More than just a “pop-up” park, this demonstration project represents the leadership and vision of several strategic planning efforts driven by the Partnership in collaboration with the City, including the Northeast Downtown Neighborhoods Plan, which established a vision for Northeast Downtown neighborhoods, and leading into to the 21st and Wynkoop Design Plan, which identified 21st Street as a signature street with significant potential to create a destination to enhance the pedestrian experience. Most recently, the Partnership co-funded and co-led development of The Outdoor Downtown Plan, which will be completed this summer and establishes a new vision to enhance the role of public spaces in creatinga sustainable, vibrant downtown that is economically healthy and growing.

“The Square on 21st encapsulates the Partnership’s vision for vibrant parks and public spaces that are major economic drivers and help showcase a powerful brand for Downtown,” said Tami Door, President and CEO of the Downtown Denver Partnership. “We’ve been planting the seeds on this project for years by co-leading and investing in strategic public space initiatives to that create places where people want to live, work and enjoy all that Downtown Denver has to offer. We are excited to see our vision come to life.”

One of the goals of The Outdoor Downtown plan is to ensure all Denver residents are a 3-minute walk from quality outdoor space and a 5-minute walk to a neighborhood park. Currently, many residents of the Ballpark and Arapahoe Square neighborhoods have to leave the neighborhood to access these amenities. The Square will provide a quality outdoor space, added green space increase street-level activity and encourage area residents, commuters and visitors alike to consider Denver’s urban spaces in a new way.

“The Square demonstrates the innovation and creativity that will be required to achieve our goal of a quality outdoor Downtown,” said Door. “We are re-thinking how we leverage publicly and privately-owned streets, sidewalks and plazas to enhance the Downtown experience.”

The Square also showcases the potential of the Partnership’s Downtown Loop. This bold, visionary project will transform the public right-of-way and link neighborhoods and connect people by turning five miles of underutilized streets, starting with 21st Street, into an essential Downtown experience. The Loop will have additional demonstration projects later this summer.

Through August 15th, visitors to The Square will enjoy a park-like public space to relax in the shade, play lawn games, sip early morning coffee, sample late-night eats, and enjoy activities for all ages (and dogs too!). The Square also features a large street mural by local artist Pat Milbery

Thank you to all of the project partners including the Ballpark Collective, the Colorado Rockies, Goodland Construction, Human Movement, PetSmart, Overcon Containers, 2Keys Corporation, University of Colorad-Denver, UpDIG, the So-Gnar Creative Division, Kobra Paint and Summer Snow.